Solar power in Florida

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Solar power in Florida has been increasing, as the cost of solar power systems using photovoltaics (PV) has decreased in recent years. In 2008, Florida adopted a net metering rule that allows any electric utility customer generating up to 2 MW (2,000 kW) of power to use net metering, which provides a retail rate credit for kilowatt-hours of electricity delivered to the utility, rolled over from month to month, and paid out in cash by the utility once a year at the avoided cost rate.[1]

In 2006, the State of Florida enacted the Florida Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act, which provided consumers with rebates and tax credits for solar photovoltaic systems.[2] The program was closed in 2010.[3] Later, the Florida Public Service Commission mandated that the state’s large utilities offer individual solar rebates. The program opened in 2011 and was closed in 2015 after the Commission deemed it to not be cost-effective for non-solar customers.[4]

In 2009, Florida Power & Light built the state's first solar power plant, the FPL DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center. At the time, the 25-MW plant was the largest of its kind. In 2010, FPL built the world's first hybrid solar-natural gas energy center.[5][6]

Florida has low electricity costs compared with other states, which makes individual solar investment less attractive.[7] Florida ranks ninth nationally in solar resource strength according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory[8] and tenth in solar generation by the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Large-scale facilities

The state's largest solar plant is the 75 MW FPL Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center, in Martin County operated by Florida Power and Light. It was the world's first hybrid solar-natural gas energy center[9] and is a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant using solar thermal instead of photovoltaic technology. As of 2024, no additional CSP plants are under development in Florida, although in 2007 a 300 MW fresnel CSP plant had been planned.[10]

The state's largest photovoltaic plant is the 25 MW DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, operated by Florida Power and Light, completed in 2009.[11] Florida Power and Light also operates the Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center, a 10 MW photovoltaic facility near the Kennedy Space Center.[12][13]

The 100 MW Sorrento Solar Farm was expected to become Florida's largest photovoltaic solar farm with 40 MW of photovoltaic capacity already under construction in Lake County. However the company Blue Chip Energy became insolvent and the equipment and farm site was sold at a public auction in 2013.[14][15]

Florida Power and Light announced in October 2014 that it would build three more power plants by the end of 2016. The FPL Manatee Solar Energy Center will be located in Manatee County at a natural gas power plant, FPL Citris Solar Energy Center will be in DeSoto County, near the FPL DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, and FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center will be in Charlotte County. The three plants together would generate 225 MW, approximately the same as the total solar power installed in the entire state.[16]

Tampa Electric Company is building a 2 MW farm at the Tampa International Airport. Gulf Power Company and the U.S. military announced contracts for the construction of 3 large plants in Florida: a 50 MW project at Saufley Field in Pensacola, a 40 MW project being at Holley Field in Navarre, and a 30 MW project at Eglin Air Force Base.[17] In March 2015 a 10MW solar farm was proposed for Tallahassee, which has a municipal electric utility.[18] In April 2015, Duke Energy Florida proposed to build 500MW of solar in the next ten years.[19]

Duke Energy is building a 20-acre solar farm in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head. The 5MW farm will sell power to Walt Disney World. Completion is expected in late 2015.[20]

Solar panels

Developers in Florida have announced the addition of solar panels on all new homes in several subdivisions.[21]

In 2013, it was discovered that Blue Chip Energy was selling fraudulent solar panels to hundreds of consumers throughout Florida.[22]

Statistics

Average solar insolation

Potential generation

Solar energy is the state's most abundant energy resource and estimates have placed the state's potential at 2,902,000 MW, which would produce about 5,274,479,000 MWh,[23] an amount much larger than the state and countries's total electricity consumption of 231,209,614 MWh and 4,125,059,899 MWh in 2010.[24][25] Florida is one of only two states with no potential for conventional wind power, the other being Mississippi,[26] and will need to either import energy from other states during overcast days and at night, or provide adequate grid energy storage. Most of the potential is from photovoltaics, which provides no storage. The state has some potential for concentrated solar power, but the potential is estimated at 130 MW.[23] Taller, 140 meter hub height wind turbines allow up to 153,485 MW of wind turbines in Florida.[27]

Installed capacity

Florida Solar Capacity (MWp)
Year Photovoltaics CSP
Capacity Change % Change Capacity Change % Change
2008 3.3 0.9 38% 0
2009 39.0 35.7 1082% 0
2010 73.8 34.8 87% 75 75
2011 95.0 21.2 30% 75 0
2012 116.9 21.9 23% 75 0
2013 137.3 20.4 17% 75 0
2014 159 22 16% 75 0
2015 200 41 26% 75 0
Sources: Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)[28][29][30][31][32] SEIA [33]

See also

References

  1. Florida - Net Metering
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  10. Big Solar Thermal Power Plants Planned for Florida, California
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  14. Company that planned Sorrento solar farm will be liquidated
  15. Solar farm site sells at public auction
  16. Florida Power and Light announces plan for Manatee County Solar Center, WWSB, January 28, 2015
  17. US Navy + Air Force Commission 120 MW Of New Solar Power Plants In Florida, James Ayre, January 26th, 2015
  18. Tallahassee prepares to add solar power to portfolio, Byron Dobson, Tallahassee Democrat, March 24, 2015
  19. Duke Energy proposes large scale solar power plants over next 10 years, Tampa Bay Times, Ivan Penn, April 2, 2015
  20. A solar farm in the shape of Mickey Mouse is coming to Florida, seriously, Fortune, Katie Fehrenbacher, May 28, 2015
  21. KB Home's Solar-As-Standard Spreads to Florida. Will It Make Solar Mainstream?
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  23. 23.0 23.1 Renewable Energy Technical Potential
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  26. Estimates of Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential, by State
  27. Florida Wind Resource Map and Potential Wind Capacity
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  33. Florida Solar

External links